Dark, doomy folk-goth icon and recent Revolver cover star Chelsea Wolfe is back with the lead single from her forthcoming mostly-acoustic album Birth of Violence, a gorgeously stirring meditation on epiphanies and transformations, titled "The Mother Road."
"I've been in a state of constant motion for the past eight years or so," the singer says of the inspiration behind the new material. "Touring, moving, playing new stages, exploring new places and meeting new people — an incredible time of learning and growing as a musician and performer."
Such constant motion, while exciting, can break down even the most seasoned artist and start to negatively impact one's mental and physical well-being. Wolfe experienced this, continuing, "But after awhile, I was beginning to lose a part of myself. I needed to take some time away from the road to get my head straight, to learn to take better care of myself, and to write and record as much as I can while I have 'Mercury in my hands,' as a wise friend put it."
A lyrical refrain chanting, "Guess I needed someone to break me/Guess I needed someone to shake me up" hints at a profound moment of clarity that pushes one to take an honest look around and reevaluate their circumstances. Wolfe is a master of atmospherics, building densely hypnotic soundscapes one moment before stripping back to the stark beauty of her voice and acoustic guitar the next. The juxtaposition of these passages in "The Mother Road" pull the listener deep into her world of enchantment, evoking a wistful lassitude that blossoms into hopeful actualization as the track progresses. "Bloom and eclipse them, wake up and transform," she sings.
Birth of Violence is set to arrive September 13th via Sargent House Records. You can pre-order and save here, and find the album's cover art and track listing below, as well as a full list of upcoming tour dates.
Birth of Violence track list:
1. The Mother Road
2. American Darkness
3. Birth of Violence
4. Deranged for Rock & Roll
5. Be All Things
6. Erde
7. When Anger Turns to Honey
8. Dirt Universe
9. Little Grave
10. Preface to a Dream Play
11. Highway
Chelsea Wolfe tour dates:
08/31 - Pasadena, CA @ Pasadena Daydream Festival * (Non Acoustic Set)
10/18 - San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
10/19 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
10/21 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
10/22 - Estes Park, CO @ Stanley Hotel
10/24 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
10/25 - Detroit, MI @ Senate Theater
10/26 - Toronto, ONT @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre
10/27 - Montreal, QC @ Le National
10/29 - Boston, MA @ Royale
10/31 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
11/01 - New York, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
11/03 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
11/04 - Charlotte, NC @ McGlohon Theater
11/05- Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
11/06 - Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
11/08 - Dallas, TX @ Texas Theatre
11/09 - Austin, TX @ Levitation
11/10 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
11/12 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
11/13- Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
11/15 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Palace Theatre
11/16 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
11/18 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11/20 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
11/21 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
* All dates with special guest Ioanna Gika except 8/31
